Another Keneally minister quits

Brian Robins

Graham West, who has announced he intends to quit the NSW cabinet. Photo: Richard Gosling

The Keneally government has been hit with more instability, with Juvenile Justice Minister Graham West announcing he intends to quit the cabinet and not contest the next election.

A tearful Mr West made a private member's statement to Parliament late this morning announcing his intentions, citing family reasons as a factor in his surprise decision, along with the desire to work more collaboratively in the welfare field.

"It's more about me wanting to do something outside of the parliamentary process," Mr West said of his decision.

Mr West, 36, the member for Campbelltown, in Sydney's south-west, is one of the youngest members of Parliament, having been elected when he was 27.

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No decision will be made on filling the cabinet position until after the state budget session of Parliament, she said.

"I thank Mr Graham West for his tireless contribution to his local electorate, my cabinet and the community," Ms Keneally said in a statement.

"Today I accepted Mr West's resignation and respect his decision to continue his advocacy and work with communities and organisations outside of Parliament.

"Mr West has served the people of NSW well, and I am sure he will continue to do so in the future."

Mr West and Ms Keneally knew each other when working for the St Vincent de Paul Society, before either of them entered Parliament.

Mr West has previously held the portfolios of Youth, Volunteering, Assisting the Premier on Veteran’s Affairs, Gaming and Racing, Sport and Recreation, Western Sydney and Assisting the Premier on Citizenship.

"I think politics is a noble profession," Mr West said after announcing his resignation.

"I want to be involved in a more hands-on way.

"I really want to focus back on the issues that got me here [into Parliament] in the first place.

Mr West's decision comes two weeks after the resignation of David Campbell as transport minister, following television footage of him leaving a gay bathhouse.

That resignation prompted a cabinet reshuffle. Now a new minister for Juvenile Justice will need to be appointed, although it is not yet clear whether Ms Keneally will appoint another outsider to the cabinet, or add these responsibilities to an existing minister.

AAP reports: Mr West told Parliament, "As I have got more involved in juvenile justice I have seen the many young people who have so much more to offer society, when given the right support.

"The voices of these young people and their communities are seldom heard - it is we who must be that voice.

"It is a fight that must leave behind partisan politics.

"For that reason I announce that I am returning my commission as a minister for the Crown and will not be recontesting the election.

"I do this so that I can work with communities and organisations in a non-partisan way.

"There will be much conjecture as to why now, but as I have tossed around with my family and friends the question of where to next, two things became clear," he said.

"Firstly, there is never a good time to make a decision like this; it is true that a week is a long time in politics.

"Secondly, I wanted to ensure that the Premier had the best shot at the next election and, given that the budget comes down on Tuesday, I believe that she needs a team who will prosecute that agenda with full vigour, a position hard to maintain when you are not recontesting."